Noah looked at me.
“Can we go?”
“Yes.”
He turned to Miriam.
“We’ll come.”
Elias seemed startled that the invitation had been accepted.
At the yard gate, he shook my hand.
Then Noah’s.
“The next time you see me, I hope I’ve driven here.”
Noah nodded.
“The next time you see me, I hope I remember where I left my cane.”
It was leaning against the office wall.
We laughed.
The sedan had barely reached the road when my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then I recognized the Portland area code used by the insurance administrator.
“Callahan Marine Works.”
“Mr. Callahan, this is Nora Walsh from Meridian Claims.”
My body went still.
Noah noticed.
I raised one finger.
Nora confirmed my identity, the policy number, the date of the collision, and the vehicle involved.
Then she began speaking in the careful language companies used whenever money became large enough to require distance.
I understood only fragments.
Assessment complete.
Commercial liability accepted.
Vehicle declared a total loss.
Equipment inventory approved with minor amendments.
Business interruption documented.
